Chapter 58: Great Victory

Chapter 58: Great Victory

In the Heavenly Pavilion, as the weather grew hotter, Yuan Zixu, who had just taken some medicinal pills, felt a burning sensation in his body. He unbuttoned his white silk inner robe, exposing his chest and abdomen, and sat on a cushioned armchair. He ordered the Taoist nun to fan him, but after a moment, he found the wind too cool, causing dizziness and vertigo. He commanded that the ice mountain be removed, only to have it slowly fanned instead.

After a while, he still felt discomfort in his chest and abdomen, overwhelmed by the heat. He summoned the ice mountain back, repeating this several times. Realizing something was amiss with his health, he was, however, reluctant to call for the imperial physician. Instead, he grumbled, "It's only June, why is the weather so strangely oppressive?"

Li Dongfu expressed concern, "Indeed, it's scorching. Perhaps rain is on its way."

Yuan Zixu suddenly caught a whiff of fragrance and asked, "Has the lunch been delivered early today?"

Li Dongfu replied, "It's from the Treasure Scroll Palace. I hear that recently, His Highness the Crown Prince has been preparing medicinal dishes every day. Whatever he makes by hand, he first orders to be presented to Your Majesty." However, as Yuan Zixu never consumed them, they were always distributed as rewards to the serving staff. Li Dongfu, on the other hand, never partook, instead instructing the palace attendants to divide them among themselves. In his heart, he thought that eating food prepared by the Crown Prince, a eunuch like himself, might diminish the little fortune he had left.

The Crown Prince's culinary skills were indeed impressive. Initially, they assumed that the eunuchs were responsible, with the Crown Prince only doing it to please his father. Later, upon discovering that the dishes were actually made by the Crown Prince himself, they couldn't help but admire his adaptability. Clearly, the Emperor appreciated such humility. For the usually proud and gentlemanly Crown Prince to lower himself to cook personally, it was seen as a silent act of submission and endearment to the Emperor. This greatly satisfied his thirst for power.

Yuan Zixu, initially feeling stifled and lacking appetite, became curious upon detecting a tangy aroma. "What did the Crown Prince prepare today?"

Li Dongfu promptly reported, "Today, His Highness made plum honey-glazed duck, salted Longjing tea-roasted shrimp, seasonal stir-fried Chinese cabbage, chicken soup with bean sprouts, spinach with tofu, and the medicinal dish is partridge congee. For the main course, there are sour filling buns."

Upon hearing 'plum', Yuan Zixu's mouth watered. He instructed, "Let me taste it. The Crown Prince's filial intentions are commendable."

In the face of the princess's predicament, the crown prince had no other options left. His only hope now was to constantly curry favor with his father, the emperor. Given the prince's aloof nature, personally preparing a meal might well be the sole method he could think of to please his sovereign.

Little did he know that this was merely Rong Bi's way of alleviating her anxiety. For a prince in the palace, not showing filial piety to the emperor could easily lead to criticism or even accusations of disobedience. Thus, whenever Rong Bi cooked herself, she would inevitably send a portion to the emperor; it was up to him whether or not he consumed it.

Yuan Zixu couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret at how he had pushed his own son to such a point. Yet, he couldn't deny the sense of superiority that came with his elevated status. He walked over to inspect the table, where each dish appeared to have been prepared with care, their colors alone indicating quality. A plate of roasted duck offered just a few slices of the choicest breast meat, its golden-brown skin drizzled with a crimson plum sauce. Dragonwell salt-roasted shrimp were nestled on a bed of dark green tea leaves, their shells crispy, while the other seasonal vegetables were vividly green and appealing, a stark contrast to the tepid boiled vegetables served in the imperial kitchen. Even the steamed buns filled with sour filling had a delightfully crispy bottom from being pan-fried.

This son had indeed put his heart into it. Yuan Zixu nodded slightly and sat down. The attending eunuchs hurried forward to serve the emperor his meal.

Taking a first bite of the plum duck, Yuan Zixu confirmed the delightful balance of sweet and sour flavors from the plum sauce, detecting a hint of plum's tartness. It complemented the crisp duck skin and tender meat beautifully. After a few more bites, he used his spoon to scoop some partridge porridge, only to find no grains visible. Surprised, he placed it in his mouth. The texture was smooth and creamy, with an intensely flavorful and aromatic broth that exceeded his expectations.

He was genuinely surprised and asked, "How is this partridge congee prepared? It's quite novel; I've never seen it before. Not a single grain of rice is visible?"

Li Dongfu had long since investigated thoroughly. After all, it was something that would enter the emperor's mouth. Whether it was consumed or not, he had to take it seriously. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to serve in the imperial presence for so long. He explained meticulously, "This partridge congee is made by boiling the skin and bones to make the broth. The partridge meat is then minced delicately and simmered with mashed Chinese yam. Finally, bird's nest is added. It's said to be excellent for stimulating appetite, benefiting the spleen, and replenishing vital energy."

Yuan Zixu nodded slightly and gestured for them to try the sour dumplings. He had been feeling a bit nauseous, but to his surprise, the dumpling skin was crispy and fragrant, while the filling was bursting with minced meat and pickled cabbage. The sourness was incredibly rich and natural, causing him to remark, "This pickled cabbage is more authentic than what's served in the Imperial Kitchen."

Li Dongfu chuckled. "Your Majesty, that pickled cabbage was prepared by the Crown Prince himself. It was harvested and sun-dried just a few days ago. He used rice broth to ferment the sourness. The freshness of the ingredients makes the taste naturally delightful."

Yuan Zixu consumed three sour-filled buns in succession and downed two bowls of partridge porridge with fervor. He felt a warmth surge within him, followed by a refreshing sweat that alleviated his fluctuating chills and fevers, settling his restlessness to the point where sitting or lying down no longer brought discomfort. The dizziness that had plagued him also subsided, much to his surprise. Curiosity piqued, he instructed his attendants to summon Director Wang of the Imperial Medical Academy to inquire about the healing properties of this medicinal cuisine.

Eunuch Wang, known for his maturity and prudence, inquired about the Emperor's meal and then deliberated before sharing his knowledge of pharmacology. "The partridge has properties to subdue yang overexuberance and alleviate malnutrition. Paired with huai mountain yam, it serves as an excellent tonic for invigorating the body and stimulating appetite, gentle on the system. Since His Majesty consumes elixirs, his blood is likely robust, and his liver fire might be disturbed. Thus, using overly cooling herbs like ephedra, cinnamon, antelope horn, yellow orris root, or ginkgo biloba could harm the yang energy and affect His health. The mild medicinal cuisine is a more suitable choice. The same logic applies to duck meat, which is cold in nature, nourishing the blood, promoting diuresis, and alleviating edema. It can also nourish the yin of the five organs and alleviate heat from exhaustion. Using duck in summer is in line with the seasonal balance."

Yuan Zixu nodded with a smile. "In that case, the Crown Prince's filial piety is commendable. However, I wonder if this medicinal recipe was taught by the Imperial Hospital?"

Suspecting a leak of the Emperor's medical records, Eunuch Wang broke into a cold sweat, though he maintained his composure. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince did borrow several books on medicinal cuisine from the Imperial Hospital. However, no one from there instructed him on tailoring recipes to specific ailments. As the saying goes, a thousand people require a thousand different formulas. Most people can only use neutral and balanced recipes. Given the confidentiality of Your Majesty's medical case, the Crown Prince must have accidentally stumbled upon the right treatment. Partridge porridge and duck meat are both very common medicinal cuisine dishes."

In reality, Eunuch Wang was unaware that Rong Bi had long deduced Yuan Zixu's dizziness from his fondness for live pearls. During his time in Jingbei, Rong Bi had consulted multiple renowned doctors on how to nourish a man who consumed elixirs and was prone to excitement. He had carefully selected several most appropriate medicinal cuisine recipes accordingly.

This was not out of concern for Yuan Zixu, as the folk doctors in Jingbei were unaware they were treating the Emperor and candidly said, "Taking elixirs, experiencing dizziness, having heated blood, yet not abstaining from desires is not the path to longevity. Dietary therapy would have limited effects."

Despite her confusion as to why the medical knowledge known even to country doctors was unknown to the Imperial Hospital, Rong Bi merely said, "I only hope that it won't conflict or harm the Emperor. Please enlighten me, Doctor." The medicinal dishes were prepared with caution, solely to prevent any issues with the Emperor's health. If the Crown Prince were implicated in another scandal due to an adverse reaction, it would be disastrous. These dishes were mild and detoxifying, safe for consumption by anyone. Even in her own medicinal food shop in Jingbei, she ensured that no harm would come to customers.

Yuan Zixu, however, was unaware of these details. He stared at the Court Physician, aware that the Crown Prince was under constant surveillance and thus had no means of obtaining his medical records. Yuan Zixu's suspicious nature had driven him to make the inquiry, and he dismissed the matter with a wave of his hand. "Enough, I trust you. From now on, when the Crown Prince sends medicinal dishes, I'll have Li Dongfu consult the Imperial Hospital first to ensure they're suitable for my constitution."

Kneeling, Wang Yuanshou inwardly grumbled. The recipes the Crown Prince used were likely common formulas. If the Emperor truly sought medicinal supplementation, he could instruct the Imperial Hospital to prescribe daily remedies for the kitchen to prepare. Why insist on having the Crown Prince prepare them daily, only to hesitate in seeking the Imperial Hospital's approval?

But he dared not voice his thoughts and simply bowed in acquiescence. At that moment, someone from outside the screen reported, "Your Majesty, an urgent military dispatch has arrived, traveling at breakneck speed over eight hundred miles."

Yuan Zixu instructed his attendants to bring in the report, which he then perused with a slight softening of his smile. After a moment's contemplation, he announced, " Summon all nine ministers of the cabinet to the study."

The military dispatch could indeed be classified as a resounding victory. Princess Yi Yang had single-handedly defended the city of Keldar, triumphing over vastly superior enemy forces with a mere thousand troops. She had decimated the hundred-thousand-strong Bei Xi army and captured alive Prince Mar Su, the personal brother of the current Khan of Zhengeir.

This was undoubtedly a genuine and substantial triumph.

However, as the officials passed around the military report, they exchanged uneasy glances, unsure how to react. The report made no mention of the Third Prince or Duke Song, implying that the royal army had failed to arrive in time for the rescue. The fact that Duke Song had pleaded for imperial permission to aid Princess Yi Yang from a thousand miles away was common knowledge among the high-ranking officials. They all could speculate on the emperor's intentions.

Now that Princess Yi Yang had emerged victorious, should they celebrate or consider their next move? Yet, when they discreetly observed Yuan Zixu, they found the emperor's expression inscrutable. All of them, therefore, focused on studying the report, frowning with neither joy nor concern daring to show on their faces.

Only the esteemed old Tutor Ge Chengxuan, known for his integrity, reacted upon reading the military reports, saying, "The court has achieved a great victory, and the princess has contributed to it. This is delightful news, a blessing for our nation."

Yuan Zixu spoke amicably, "I've summoned all of you here precisely because this matter has taken an unexpected turn. Minister Ge, what is your opinion on the course of action we should take next?"

Grand Tutor Ge replied, "Of course, it's imperative for His Highness the Third Prince and Duke Ding to unite with the princess as soon as possible to consolidate our gains. We should also assess the situation with Prince Jingbei's campaign. With such a significant victory, the fall of the Bei Xi royal court is likely imminent. All we need to do now is wait safely for Bei Xi to become our vassal state."

Minister of War Shi Quan, however, interjected, "Prime Minister, it's possible that Prince Jingbei, with his wolfish ambitions, might still find his gains insufficient and turn his gaze southward…"

Grand Tutor Ge scoffed, "With a long march behind them and fatigue weighing them down, does Minister Shi truly believe that an experienced general like Duke Song, well-rested and prepared, would be unable to halt the Northern Calm Army's southern advance? And is Prince Northern Calm really such a fool? It seems Minister Shi's courage has been rattled to the point of failing to see through this situation."

Yuan Zixu deliberated, "Exhausted troops, huh... Could there be an opportunity to wait for them to tire while we remain rested?"

The ministers perceived the emperor's intentions. Grand Tutor Ge turned to Yuan Zixu with a hint of caution in his tone, "Your Majesty, we must not initiate conflict. It would be wise to prioritize the greater good by summoning Prince Bei Xi and ordering him to present a surrender document, returning the sixteen provinces that were once ours. Seizing this initiative, we should promptly appoint officials to govern those territories through the Ministry of Personnel – but, as a sign of respect, we should also inform Prince Jingbei. Only then can we stabilize this advantageous situation."

Yuan Zixu fell silent for a moment before responding, "Your words hold merit. Let us proceed as you suggest."

He then instructed the attendant standing nearby, "Yi Yang has proven his worth in defeating the enemy. Have the Ministry of Rites and the Military Department expedite discussions on rewarding him. Also, have a copy of the general's report sent to the Crown Prince to bring him joy."